HPD officer who apparently killed himself identified

Updated 10:45 am, Wednesday, August 20, 2014

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Jodi Silva, a spokesperson for the Houston Police Department, has confirmed that a Houston police officer has died from a gunshot wound on the second floor of the parking garage at the City of Houston Jail at 61 Riesner near downtown on Tuesday afternoon.

Jodi Silva, a spokesperson for the Houston Police Department, has confirmed that a Houston police officer has died from a gunshot wound on the second floor of the parking garage at the City of Houston Jail

Jodi Silva, a spokesperson for the Houston Police Department, has confirmed that a Houston police officer has died from a gunshot wound on the second floor of the parking garage at the City of Houston Jail at 61 Riesner near downtown on Tuesday afternoon.

Jodi Silva, a spokesperson for the Houston Police Department, has confirmed that a Houston police officer has died from a gunshot wound on the second floor of the parking garage at the City of Houston Jail at ... more

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Houston Police officers shown gathered at 61 Riesner where Jodi Silva, a spokesperson for the Houston Police Department, has confirmed that a Houston police officer has died from a gunshot wound on the second floor of the parking garage Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014.

Houston Police officers shown gathered at 61 Riesner where Jodi Silva, a spokesperson for the Houston Police Department, has confirmed that a Houston police officer has died from a gunshot wound on the second

Jodi Silva, a spokesperson for the Houston Police Department, has confirmed that a Houston police officer has died from a gunshot wound on the second floor of the parking garage at the City of Houston Jail at 61 Riesner near downtown on Tuesday afternoon.

Jodi Silva, a spokesperson for the Houston Police Department, has confirmed that a Houston police officer has died from a gunshot wound on the second floor of the parking garage at the City of Houston Jail at

According to the Houston Police Department, an officer was shot and killed on the second floor of the parking garage at the City of Houston Jail at 61 Riesner near downtown on Tuesday afternoon.

According to the Houston Police Department, an officer was shot and killed on the second floor of the parking garage at the City of Houston Jail at 61 Riesner near downtown on Tuesday afternoon.

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According to the Houston Police Department, an officer was shot and killed on the second floor of the parking garage at the City of Houston Jail at 61 Riesner near downtown on Tuesday afternoon.

According to the Houston Police Department, an officer was shot and killed on the second floor of the parking garage at the City of Houston Jail at 61 Riesner near downtown on Tuesday afternoon.

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According to the Houston Police Department, an officer was shot and killed on the second floor of the parking garage at the City of Houston Jail at 61 Riesner near downtown on Tuesday afternoon.

According to the Houston Police Department, an officer was shot and killed on the second floor of the parking garage at the City of Houston Jail at 61 Riesner near downtown on Tuesday afternoon.

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According to the Houston Police Department, an officer was shot and killed on the second floor of the parking garage at the City of Houston Jail at 61 Riesner near downtown on Tuesday afternoon.

According to the Houston Police Department, an officer was shot and killed on the second floor of the parking garage at the City of Houston Jail at 61 Riesner near downtown on Tuesday afternoon.

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HPD officer who apparently killed himself identified

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Houston police on Wednesday identified the officer who apparently killed himself Tuesday as Rudolph Farias.

Farias , who joined HPD in May 1993 and worked in the traffic enforcement division, was found dead, apparently at his own hands, inside a parking garage behind the HPD Jail near downtown, authorities said.

He was discovered about 4 p.m. inside his HPD patrol car parked at the garage along Washington near Riesner. Other HPD officers spotted him while they arrived prior to starting their Tuesday evening shift.

He was still in uniform and slumped over inside the patrol car, authorities said.

"The officers pulled him out of the car. They determined he was deceased," said Victor Senties, a Houston police spokesman. The officers found a pistol inside the car.

"They determined he was deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound," Senties said.

The officer's death is being investigated by Houston police homicide detectives.

Police officials offered no clues as to what might have prompted the officer to apparently take his own life - whether it was personal or related to his job with the Houston Police Department.

"We're starting from square one. We just don't know," Senties said.

The officer had been in court earlier Tuesday as part of his usual assignment with HPD's traffic enforcement unit, which investigates auto accidents.

"He had completed his court duties for the day and then he came over here to the garage," Senties said.

"The reality is that the law enforcement profession has long perpetuated a stigma attached to mental health that prevents both officers from seeking the necessary treatment and leaders from providing it," the study stated.

Senties said counseling services will be available for any HPD officer affected by the apparent suicide.

"They're obviously going to have that option," he said.

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